Top ten cocktails that you must try!

There is nothing better than a cheeky cocktail on a Friday night after a hard week at work but which one our top ten cocktails should you go for?

Ironically lots of the today’s most popular cocktails were once used as remedies for people not feeling well and in need of a pick me-up whereas now they are there to kick-start the weekend!

Like ordering a fine wine there are many factors to take into consideration when you choose your cocktail. Taste is always key but as well as that how it looks, what ‘extras’ are in it and even what type of glass it is served in!

There are a host of cocktails which have always been popular such as the Martini, Screwdriver and Bloody Mary but in recent years we have seen various new options created!

The following ten cocktails are a little bit special, they can be classed trendy and popular but also they are drinks that you must try!

10: Mojito

Fresh mint and good quality white rum are key ingredients to making the perfect Mojito! I have tried a raspberry one and fell in love with a strawberry one during a night out in Angers but the original has to be the best!

Summertime is the best time to enjoy an ice cold Mojito – The recipe for this special cocktail is white rum, sugar, lime, mint and soda. To get the best result use brown sugar, crush the lime but not the mint so that you avoid releasing the mint’s oils. Also, opt for highly carbonated soda and there is no need to crush the ice. Remember this is a drink which is not shaken but stirred!

As one of our personal favourites it had to be added to the top ten cocktails list!

9: Cuba Libre

This an interesting one – you take a simple but tasty rum and coke and add lime juice and you have the magical Cuba Libre.

There are political connotations, which some might not realise, for those who opt for this drink – by adding the zest of the lime it becomes a drink for people fighting for the cause, supporting the revolution.

People started drinking Cuba Libre back in the early 20th century and since that time it has spread around the world and by ordering this drink it is said you are showing solidarity with the islanders’ striving for freedom.

A special day to enjoy this lovely summer drink is the 14th June on the anniversary of Che Guevara’s birthday!

8: Margarita

A true classic! It consists of tequila, triple sec and lime or lemon juice and finished off with salt or sometimes sugar on the rim of the glass.

This drink comes three ways – firstly, it is ‘on the rocks’ where it is shaken with ice, secondly, it is the ‘frozen’ option which is blended with ice, or the good old fashioned ‘straight up’ which is without ice.

These days a Margarita can be served in a variety of glass types, including cocktail and wine glasses and even pint glasses but for traditionalists it should be served in a traditional margarita glass, which is a stepped-diameter variant of a cocktail glass.

Jimmy Buffett enjoyed the drink so much he wrote a song about it in 1977- “Margaritaville” and it was inducted into the 2016 Grammy Hall of Fame for its cultural and historic significance.

7: Bloody Mary

This famous cocktail is perfect it you are struggling with a hangover or feel the need to have an energy booster. The key ingredients are vodka, Worcestershire sauce, lemon and tomato juice.

Over the years people have put their own spin on it with some of the additions being beef stock, horseradish, celery, cayenne pepper and even prawns!

The cool London bar called ‘The Talented Mr Fox’ even serves their version with fresh pig’s blood!

An interesting fact is that if you swap vodka for sake then you have a Bloody Geisha.

A special cocktail that deserves its place in the top ten cocktails as it’s a great drink to having if you are starting to flake and need a boost!

6: Screwdriver

Another popular choice is a ‘Screwdriver’ which is very simple to make – with just orange juice and vodka as the two main ingredients.

While it is a basic drink, there are many variations especially considering it has been enjoyed since the 1940s and was mentioned in the press in 1949.

Back in the day it was the drink of choice for aviators and engineers and used to only cost a dollar which included a tip – this certainly helped make it an attractive option!

You might surprised to hear that the 14th December is National Screwdriver Day!

5: Mai Tai

The fantastic Mai Tai is traditionally made with rum, Curaçao liqueur, orgeat syrup and lime juice and connected to Polynesian-style settings.

The Tahitian word “Maita’i” means “good”; but as we know the drink is spelt with two words, and can sometimes be hyphenated or have a capital letter.

By the 1950s and 60s the Mai Tai was extremely popular in many restaurants, especially the tiki-themed ones. This popularity was helped by the very fashionable superstar Elvis Presley prominently featuring them in the film Blue Hawaii.

The Mai Tai is now synonymous with Tiki culture of both the past and the present – It is heavily linked with Māori mythology.

So back to the drink – It is best served after being shaken with ice, strained and then poured into a glass to be enjoyed!

4: Long Island Iced Tea

This one of for those of you looking for something extremely potent! This drink has a much more alcohol than most cocktails due to the small amount of mixers in it and if you ask for it to be “extra long”, it will increases the alcohol to mixer ratio making it even stronger!

The reason it is so strong is due to the combination of tequila, vodka, light rum, triple sec and gin with a ‘splash’ of cola as the mixer!

You will find a few variations on how people serve it with diet coke or actual iced tea but most don’t actually use tea.

Due to the strength of this gem it could easily have been higher in our top ten cocktails list!

3: Sex On The Beach

A drink that immediately grabs your attention when you are perusing the cocktail menu – the mix of vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry and orange juice is perfect for any beach holiday (and not just because of the name).

It shot to fame in the late 1980s in Florida and by the late 1990s was being consumed by British and Irish holiday goers especially in Spanish and Greek bars.

Other popular drinks found in resorts since the 90s with a similar theme are The Screaming Orgasm, Suck, Bang & Blow and Sex but the most popular has to be Sex On The Beach.

2: Cosmopolitan

A cosmopolitan, which is sometimes shortened to ‘Cosmo’, is a cocktail made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and finally some freshly squeezed or sweetened lime juice.

Whilst it gained popularity in the 1970s and 80s in the likes of New York and San Francisco the 1990s were when it became the drink for have for groups of women on a night out after Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie Bradshaw, used to drink it when out with her friends on the television program Sex and the City.

The best way to make this drink is to serve it in a large cocktail glass, sometimes known as a martini glass – but remember it not a martini!

The combination of Vodka Citron, Cointreau, Fresh lime juice, Cranberry juice and ice mixed in a shaker and strained into a glass and garnished with a lime wheel is the way to make a perfect Cosmo.

You will know if it’s a success if the drink is a frothy bright pink colour!

1: Pina Colada

In Spanish ‘Pina Colada’ mean ‘strained pineapple’ and whilst there were some recipes from the 1950s this drink only got its’ name almost ten years later.

In 1978, it was announced that the ‘Pina Colada’ was the official symbol of Puerto Rica which was at the same time at the Hilton Hotel Bar they sold their three-millionth one!

Since then every year on the 10th July the Caribbean islands celebrate the official Pina Colada Day.

This drink is preferred by those with a sweet tooth as the combination of white rum, coconut milk and pineapple juice is very sweet but extremely refreshing on the hottest of days.

This cocktail is seen as a drink for the ladies and as it isn’t the most ‘masculine’ drink on the market!

Of course there in nothing stopping you working your way through out list of top ten cocktails!

It’s a great list — in fact, it’s quite inspirational. Personally, I do not like cocktails that much, I’d rather drink a glass of wine but making cocktails for my friends when they come over will be a good way to show them my love and compassion. Thanks!

About Us

We are Liosa and Scottie; the Irish based duo behind Bars and Spas – a global lifestyle and travel magazine and resource for independent travellers. We're on a mission to open your mind to new places to drink around the globe and to help you discover some of the most relaxing and beautiful places on the planet. Subscribe to our news feed for inspiration for your nights out and future holidays!